STORYLINES
*Towson has won 11 straight games when opening the season at home. The Tigers have not lost at home in a season opener since 1991.
*Since 1993, Towson has opened the season facing Central Connecticut twice, winning both times. The Tigers defeated the Blue Devils 42-7 to start the 1993 season and opened with a 20-10 win over CCSU in 2007.
*The Towson football team reached new heights in 2013 when the Tigers advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title game. The veteran Tiger squad won a school-record 13 games, including three in the playoffs, before falling to North Dakota State in the National Championship game.
*Entering 2014, Towson must replace eight starters on offense and four starters on defense.
*Junior Connor Frazier won the starting quarterback job in camp. Frazier has attempted just 15 career passes but led the Tigers to a 35-31 come-from-behind win at Eastern Washington in the FCS semifinals last season after starting quarterback Peter Athens went down with an injury. Frazier scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run with 17 seconds left. He also ran for a career-high 98 yards in the win that led the Tigers to the national title game.

Gold Rush
Tiger fans were encouraged to wear gold for tonight’s season opener. Gold smoke will be used when the Tigers take the field. Fans will also have chance to take pictures with the FCS finalist trophy and see the large FCS national runner-up shield now displayed outside of the field house.

Smith Named to Buck Buchanan List
Senior cornerback Tye Smith has been named to the 2014 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The award is given out annually to the FCS’ most outstanding defensive player. Past recipients of the Buchanan Award include two-time winner Dexter Coakley (former Dallas Cowboy), Jared Allen (Chicago Bears), Rashean Mathis (Detroit Lions) and Kroy Biermann (Atlanta Falcons). Smith is one of only two cornerback on this year’s list.

In the National Rankings
Towson begins the 2014 season ranked No. 7 in the NCAA FCS Coaches Poll. The Tigers, who won a school-record 13 games and advanced to the FCS National Championship game last year, received 438 points and one first-place vote. Towson finished last season ranked No. 2 in the final coaches poll. The CAA led all conferences with six schools ranked.

Scouting the Opponent
Central Connecticut is coming off a 4-8 season in which the Blue Devils won just two Northeast Conference games. CCSU was selected fourth in the annual NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Four Blue Devils – Rob Hollomon, Tyrell Holmes, Tyler Hurd and Josh Alaeze – were named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. Hollomon is the most noteworthy returner. He enters the 2014 season third on CCSU’s career rushing list with 2,556 yards. He rushed for 1,452 yards last season and scored 19 total touchdowns, including 18 on the ground. Earlier this summer Hollomon was named to the Walter Payton Award watch list and was a Preseason All-America First Team selection at the all-purpose position by The Sports Network. Hollomon led NCAA Division I FCS with 189.17 all-purpose yards per game last season.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Towson’s Derrick Joseph has earned a spot on the 2014 CFPA All-Purpose Performer of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by College Football Performance Awards officials. Previously, Joseph was named to the 2014 CFPA Kickoff Returner Award Watch List.

The initial watch list includes 30 returning performers, vying for the top all-purpose award in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

“Congratulations to Derrick Joseph on earning another spot on this year’s watch list,” said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. “Joseph’s performance on offense and special teams makes him one of the nation’s top all-purpose threats.”

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferment in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

CFPA is now entering its seventh season of recognition. The CFPA’s player and team performance index, employed since 2008, ranks success in all three phases of the game — offense, defense, and special teams.

The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Towson University football team begins the 2014 season ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday.

The Tigers, who won a school-record 13 games and advanced to the FCS National Championship game last year, received 438 points and one first-place vote in the rankings. Towson finished last season ranked No. 2 in the final coaches poll.

Three-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State received 18 of 26 first-place votes to claim the No. 1 spot in the opening poll of 2014. Eastern Washington earned the No. 2 spot in the poll and received six first-place votes after going 12-3 last season. Southeastern Louisiana, New Hampshire and Montana rounded out the top five in the inaugural poll of 2014. Southeastern Louisiana and Towson were the only other schools to garner first-place votes outside of the Bison and Eagles.

Coastal Carolina holds the No. 6 spot followed by the Tigers, Jacksonville State, McNeese State and South Dakota State to complete to the top 10.

The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) led all conferences with six schools ranked in the Top 25. The Big Sky and the Missouri Valley Football Conference each place four teams in the poll. A total of nine conferences were represented with six conferences placing at least two schools.

The FCS Coaches Poll is based exclusively on a voting panel of head coaches in the FCS under the cooperation of the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and is administered by the Southern Conference.

The Tigers open the 2014 season at home on August 30 against Central Connecticut. The game is set to kickoff at 6 p.m.

TOWSON ANNOUNCES 2014-15 MEN’S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULETigers open season at Alabama on November 14; travel to Georgetown and Temple while hosting LaSalle

TOWSON, Md. – Road contests at Alabama, Georgetown and Temple and a home game against 2013 NCAA “Sweet 16” participant LaSalle highlight the 2014-15 Towson University men’s basketball non-conference schedule, which was released by Tiger head coach Pat Skerry on Monday.

Coming off a season in which the Tigers won a Division I school record 25 games and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), Skerry and the Tigers will look to build off that recent success by taking on a challenging non-conference schedule.

“We’re excited to play a strong non-conference schedule, which we always do,” said Skerry. “It’ll test us early and prepare us for the rigors of Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.”

After graduating four senior starters, including two-time CAA Player of the Year Jerrelle Benimon, the Tigers will have a new look heading into the 2014-15 season. Fans will have a chance to get an early preview of the team when Towson hosts an exhibition game against Slippery Rock inside SECU Arena on November 7. The exhibition contest will be part of a doubleheader with the Tiger women’s team.

The Tigers then go on the road for the first five games of the regular season. Towson opens its 2014-15 campaign by taking on Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe Alabama in Tuscaloosa on November 14. That game will be part of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic.

After battling the Tide, the Tigers will visit local rival Morgan State on November 17. Towson then finishes off play in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at Monmouth University from November 21-23. The four-team field also includes Central Connecticut State, Bethune-Cookman and host Monmouth.

The Tigers play their first regular season game inside SECU Arena, where they went 15-1 a year ago, onNovember 26 against Division III foe, Goucher College.
Towson will take on a pair of teams from Baltimore next, traveling to UMBC on November 29 and hosting Coppin State on December 3.

On December 7, the Tigers will make their second trip in three years to the Verizon Center to take on Georgetown. The game will be part of the BB&T Classic, which will be a doubleheader broadcast on Fox Sports 1. The opening game of the BB&T Classic pits George Washington against Charlotte.

Towson will then collide with a pair of teams from Philadelphia. On December 10, the Tigers will travel to Temple and on December 20, they’ll host LaSalle.

Before Christmas break, Towson will make the short trip to Annapolis to take on Navy on December 22. The Tigers wrap up non-conference play at home on December 29 hosting Fairleigh Dickinson.

All game dates are subject to change. Stay tuned to TowsonTigers.com as game times, ticket information, the CAA schedule and TV broadcast schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.

TOWSON, Md. — The entire 2014 Towson University football schedule has been released with all opponents, game times and broadcast information finalized.

Coming off a season in which the Tigers won a school-record 13 games and advanced to the FCS National Championship game, Towson will appear on television seven times in 2014.

The Tigers will play four non-conference games in addition to their eight-game Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) schedule. Towson will play six home games at Minnegan Field at Johnny Unitas® Stadium and six contests on the road.

The Tigers open their 2014 campaign with a home game against Central Connecticut on August 30 at 6 p.m. The game will be a ‘Gold Rush’ as all Towson fans are encouraged to wear gold to the home opener.

For the seventh year in a row, the Tigers will face an NCAA FBS opponent in the early season as Towson will travel to West Virginia University on September 6. The game, set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m., will be televised on ROOT Sports.

WVU will be the eighth FBS opponent to host the Tigers since 2008. Towson earned its first win over an FBS school last year when the Tigers won at Connecticut, 33-18.

Towson will wrap up its non-conference schedule the following two weeks when the Tigers travel to Delaware State (September 13, 2 p.m.) and host North Carolina Central (September 20, 6 p.m.).

Towson will remain at home for its first two CAA games, both scheduled to air on Comcast SportsNet. The Tigers take on 2013 CAA regular season champion Maine on September 27 at 7 p.m. before wrapping up a three-game homestand by facing Stony Brook on October 4 at 3:30 p.m.

On October 11, Towson visit James Madison and then remains on the road to face rival Delaware on October 18. Both games are set to kickoff at 12:30 p.m. and will air on Comcast SportsNet.

CAA newcomer Elon visits Unitas Stadium on November 1. That game, set to kickoff at 4 p.m., will be Towson’s homecoming game.

The Tigers travel to Villanova on November 8 for a 7 p.m. clash with the Wildcats. That contest will be broadcast on the American Sports Network.

Towson hosts William & Mary in its home finale on November 15 at 3 p.m. That game will be shown on Comcast SportsNet and fans are encouraged to ‘Black Out’ the stadium on senior day.

The Tigers wrap up their regular season on November 22 when they travel to Rhode Island for a 12:30 p.m. contest.

Villanova’s John Robertson and William & Mary’s Mike Reilly were chosen as the CAA preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. New Hampshire was chosen to win the conference title in 2014, receiving 15 first-place votes.

Holder was named first team All-CAA in 2013 and earned second team All-America honors from The Sports Network and Beyond Sports Network. He started 13 of 16 games and had 16 receptions for 172 yards with three touchdowns. Holder caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in Towson’s victory over New Hampshire and had a five-yard TD catch against Delaware. Holder also had a one-yard touchdown reception to help lead the Tigers to a win at Eastern Washington in the semifinals of the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Delaire was named as a third team All-American by College Sports Madness and by Beyond Sports Network in 2013. He earned a spot on the All-CAA first team after leading the league in total tackles for a loss, total sacks and in fumbles recovered. Delaire started all 15 games that he played in and made 68 tackles, including 43 solo – fifth-most on the team. He also had 17.5 tackles for a loss (86 yards) to lead the team. He had four tackles and two sacks at North Carolina Central and made eight tackles with two sacks at William & Mary. Delaire made two tackles and had one QB hurry against North Dakota State in the FCS National Championship game.

Carpenter was named first team All-CAA as a free safety last year after tying for sixth in the CAA in interceptions and 10th in fumbles recovered. He had an interception and a 34-yard return for a touchdown at Richmond and made a career-high 13 tackles against Villanova. Carpenter made six tackles and recovered a fumble in the win over James Madison. He made nine tackles and recorded an interception in the win at Eastern Washington. Carpenter’s interception clinched the win over the Eagles with three seconds left.

Smith, who was named to the Beyond Sports Network Preseason FCS All-America team, is coming off a sensational junior campaign. The cornerback was named second team CAA after ranking eighth in the league in passes defended (14) and third on the team with 103 tackles. Smith started 15 of 16 games and recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss. He had one sack, two interceptions, recorded 12 pass breakups, forced two fumbles and recovered one.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Towson’s Derrick Joseph has earned a spot on the 2014 CFPA Kickoff Returner Award Watch List, as announced by College Football Performance Awards officials.

The initial watch list includes 40 returning performers, vying for the top kickoff returner award in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

“Congratulations to Derrick Joseph on earning a spot on this year’s watch list,” said CFPA Executive DirectorBrad Smith. “With four career kickoff return touchdowns, Joseph will be one of the nation’s top return specialists to watch in 2014.”

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferment in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

CFPA is now entering its seventh season of recognition. The CFPA’s player and team performance index, employed since 2008, ranks success in all three phases of the game — offense, defense, and special teams.

Towson’s Terrance West was a two-time winner of the CFPA’s Running Back of the Year Award. CFPA also recognized Towson with the conference’s top team rushing performance over the past three seasons.

The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.

RICHMOND, Va. (July 22, 2014) – CAA Football announced on Tuesday a schedule of 24 games that will be televised by conference broadcast partners NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports Regional Networks and American Sports Network in 2014.

2014 will mark the CAA’s third year of a five-year broadcast agreement with NBC Sports Network. The Emmy Award-winning network is the 24/7 cable television home for NBC Sports, and is available in more than 85 million households. In addition, NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets – will stream each of the four CAA Football games on NBCSN.

NBC Sports Regional Networks – which includes Comcast SportsNet – consists of 11 regional networks that deliver more than 2,400 live sporting events annually to more than 43 million homes. NBC Sports Regional Networks will carry a total of 11 CAA Football contests in 2014.

Additionally, nine CAA Football games will be broadcast on the American Sports Network, the conference’s newest television partner. ASN is a collegiate sports initiative of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has affiliates that reach approximately 38.9-percent of U.S. households.

Specific Comcast SportsNet and American Sports Network clearances will be announced each week throughout the season.

In addition to the linear broadcasts, every Comcast SportsNet and American Sports Network game in the CAA Football package will be simulcast digitally to out-of-market areas for free on CAA.tv. Digital broadcasts on CAA.tv will be blacked out in areas where the telecast is available via local cable providers.

CAA Football’s 2014 television package kicks off on Sept. 13 with a non-conference matchup of Lehigh at New Hampshire on ASN. The next week, Sept. 20, will feature a slate of three televised games with a CSN double-header of James Madison at Villanova and New Hampshire at Richmond, along with Charlotte at Elon on ASN.

CSN will broadcast another CAA Football double-header on Sept. 27 with Delaware at James Madison, followed by Maine at 2013 national runner-up Towson. The next week, CSN will carry the matchup between Stony Brook and Towson.

The national NBC Sports Network package gets underway on Oct. 11 with William & Mary at New Hampshire. That Saturday will feature two other televised games, with Towson at James Madison on CSN and Maine at Stony Brook on ASN.

Over the next four weeks, CSN will carry matchups of Towson at Delaware, Delaware at William & Mary, Villanova at Richmond, and Elon at William & Mary. In the same stretch, ASN will broadcast Rhode Island at Richmond, Maine at Rhode Island, William & Mary at James Madison, and Towson at Villanova.

The NBCSN schedule resumes on Nov. 15 with James Madison at Richmond, in addition to William & Mary at Towson on CSN and UAlbany at Villanova on ASN.

The regular-season’s final Saturday, Nov. 22, will feature a NBCSN double-header of New Hampshire at Maine followed by Richmond at William & Mary. The ASN slate will also conclude that week with Elon traveling to James Madison.

A complete list of CAA Football games on NBC Sports Network, Comcast SportsNet and American Sports Network is below.

Date

Matchup

Time

Network

Sept. 7

Lehigh at New Hampshire

3:30 p.m.

ASN

Sept. 20

James Madison at Villanova

12:30 p.m.

CSN

Sept. 20

New Hampshire at Richmond

4 p.m.

CSN

Sept. 20

Charlotte at Elon

7 p.m.

ASN

Sept. 27

Delaware at James Madison

4 p.m.

CSN

Sept. 27

Maine at Towson

7 p.m.

CSN

Oct. 4

Stony Brook at Towson

3:30 p.m.

CSN

Oct. 11

Towson at James Madison

12:30 p.m.

CSN

Oct. 11

William & Mary at New Hampshire

3:30 p.m.

NBCSN

Oct. 11

Maine at Stony Brook

7 p.m.

ASN

Oct. 18

Towson at Delaware

12:30 p.m.

CSN

Oct. 18

Rhode Island at Richmond

3:30 p.m.

ASN

Oct. 25

Maine at Rhode Island

12 p.m.

ASN

Oct. 25

Delaware at William & Mary

12:30 p.m.

CSN

Nov. 1

Villanova at Richmond

12:30 p.m.

CSN

Nov. 1

William & Mary at James Madison

3:30 p.m.

ASN

Nov. 8

Elon at William & Mary

3:30 p.m.

CSN

Nov. 8

Towson at Villanova

7 p.m.

ASN

Nov. 15

James Madison at Richmond

12:30 p.m.

NBCSN

Nov. 15

William & Mary at Towson

3 p.m.

CSN

Nov. 15

UAlbany at Villanova

7 p.m.

ASN

Nov. 22

Elon at James Madison

12 p.m.

ASN

Nov. 22

New Hampshire at Maine

3:30 p.m.

NBCSN

Nov. 22

Richmond at William & Mary

7:30 p.m.

NBCSN

All times EST and subject to changeNBCSN: NBC Sports NetworkCSN: Comcast SportsNetASN: American Sports Network

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Towson’s Jake Ryder has earned a spot on the 2014 CFPA Punter Award Watch List, as announced by College Football Performance Awards.

The initial watch list includes 38 returning performers, vying for the top punter award in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). All players are eligible for awards at their respective positions; players are not preemptively eliminated from consideration.

“Congratulations to Jake Ryder on earning a spot on this year’s watch list,” said CFPA Executive Director Brad Smith. “Ryder produced a number of strong punting performances in 2013.”

The goal of College Football Performance Awards is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferment in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. Twenty-eight CFPA winners have been first-round NFL Draft selections.

CFPA is now entering its seventh season of recognition. The CFPA’s player and team performance index ranks success in all three phases of the game — offense, defense, and special teams.

Towson’s Terrance West was a two-time winner of the CFPA’s Running Back of the Year Award. According to the CFPA, Towson has produced the conference’s top team rushing performance over the past three seasons.

The full list of 2014 CFPA winners will be announced January 14, 2015.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Senior cornerback Tye Smith of the Towson University football team has been named to the 2014 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, it was announced on Thursday. The award is given out annually to the FCS’ most outstanding defensive player.

The Buchanan Award will celebrate its 20th anniversary this season and will be presented by The Sports Network at the FCS national awards banquet on December 15.

This year’s widespread, 20-player watch list breaks down into six defensive ends, five linebackers, five safeties, two defensive tackles and two cornerbacks.

Smith, who last week was named to the Beyond Sports Network Preseason FCS All-America team, is coming off a sensational junior campaign. The cornerback was named second team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) after ranking eighth in the league in passes defended (14) and third on the team with 103 tackles. Smith started 15 of 16 games and recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss. He had one sack, two interceptions, recorded 12 pass breakups, forced two fumbles and recovered one.

The Buck Buchanan Award Watch List can undergo revision during the 2014 season. Ballots will be sent to a national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. The Sports Network also presents the Walter Payton, Jerry Rice and Eddie Robinson awards. The Payton Award honors the outstanding player in the FCS, the Rice Award goes to the FCS freshman of the year and the Robinson Award is bestowed upon the FCS coach of the year.